Cover



H. A. BENEDICT ET AL COVER Filed Oct. 4,

. INVENTORSI }[2YS37?Z Benedicz" Patented den. 1, i924.

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HERSHEL A. BENEDICT, OF EAST ORANGE, AND EDVABZO M. MULLER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

COVER.

Application filed October 4, 1922. Serial No. 592,281.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HEnsHEL A. BENE- DICT and EDVARD M. MoLLnn, citizens of the United States, residing at East Orange and Jersey City, respectively, in the counties of Essex and Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates more particularly to means for securing a cover in place, and especially intended for use in connection with covers on parts of machinery, and is shown applied to a commutator cover for electric railway motors.

The objects of the invention are tc provide a simple, inexpensive cover and holder; to avoid hinges, prevent rattling and obtain a tight closure; to permit the cover to be readily removed and replaced; to permit the cover to be applied either end to; to avoid parts likely to become lost in removing the cover, and to obtain other changes and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a plan of a cover in position embodying our invention;

Figure 2,is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the cover unlocked ready for removal, and

Figure 4 is an end view of the cover showing the same locked.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a cover constructed in accordance with our invention applied to an opening to be closed, such. as a commutator casing 2 of an electric motor. It has heretofore been common practice on commutator housings to provide a hinged cover with means at the opposite edge from the hinges to lock the same down. We prefer to provide a cover which will be entirely removable from the housing and give freer access to the commutator when the same needs to be inspected, cleaned, or otherwise attended. To this end, we provide a cover not having any hinges or permanent attachment to the housing. Said cover preferably fits over the upstanding edges of the commutator housing with rolled down edges around its periphery, so as to properly shed water and prevent entry of dust and dirt between the housing and cover.

In the particular cover and housing illustrated, the cover has a length considerable in excess of its width, and secured to extend longitudinally of this cover is a leaf spring 3. As shown, said leaf spring is riveted at its middle, as at 4:, to said cover, so as to prevent the cover and spring becoming separated and also to prevent relative lateral movement between the said cover and spring. Furthermore, the spring is preferably positioned to extend medially between the longitudinal edges of the cover so as to permit the cover to be applied either way.

Leaf spring 3 is long enough to project slightly beyond the ends of the cover, and each end is preferably curled, as at 5 for receiving an eye or shackle 6 permanently applied thereto. Said shackle hangs downwardly from the spring and is adapted to swing toward and away from the housing. The housing is provided with a stud 7 preferably held in place by means of nut 8, and properly positioned so as to aline with the shackle. In looking the cover down, the spring 3 is depressed and shackle 6 caused to engage stud 7. In order to retain the shackle in engagement with the stud, said stud is preferably grooved peripherally as at 9 near its outer end thus providing a seat for the shackle.

Obviously in operation, the spring tension will draw the shackle upwardly into said seat 9 and retain the cover drawn down onto the edge of the housing until such time as the spring is positively depressed and the shackle swung out of engagement from the stud. The spring tension is sufiicient to prevent the shackle from becoming bounced loose from the stud in operation of the motor or the vehicle to which the motor may be applied, and the cover is therefore securely held until positively unlocked.

Obviously detailed changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of our improved cover and we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described our invention, we cla1rn:'

1. 111 a device of the character descrlbed,

comprising in cornbination a housing. having, an o'pemng', a cover for closlng said open-f ing, a stud secured to the housing, a leaf spring fixed to the cover and having a free;

end in all positions spaced from said stud, and means for connecting said? free end of the spring with said stud.

2. In a device of the-character described,

a housing having an opening, a cover forplace, outwardly projecting studs, on the housing beneath the ends oi? said leaf springs, and shackles carried by said leaf springat the ends thereof adapted to engage said studs when the spring is de- Press 3.; In a device of the character described, a housing having an oblong opening, an oblong convexed cover for said opening, a leaf spring secured intermediate of its length to said; cover. at the height of the convexity of said cover, said spring extending longitudinally of said cover, and means at the ends of said spring for tensioning the spring to hold the cover in place.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signature.

HERSHEL A. BENEDICT.

EDVARD M. MOLLER. 

